Automatic safety appliance



g c. A. HowE ATOMATIC SAFETY APPLIANCE Filed Oort. 9. 192s IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYI Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES A. HoWE, orl rIr'rsBUnGHyPENNsYLvAm, Ass'IGNoa or ONE-HALE 'ro W. BRUCE QLOTEELTY, Vor" SHARPSBUBG. 'PENNSYLVANIA'. y

CHARLES y Y 1,638,934 i PATENT ori-"Ice".

AUTOMATIC SAFETY APPLIACE.

. Application ined oetobers, 192s. serial No. 140,580.

My invention relates 'to an automatic safetyappliance, and while primarily intended for use in connection with the lsteam generator of a vulcaniz'ing apparatus, it will be obvious that the device may be employed in connect-ion with any'y other mechanism wherein itis found to beapplicable.

Important V-objects of the vinvention arev to provide adevicesof the character described which will serve all of the purposes rof an ordinary safety valve without permitting the escape of'any steam; which will function automatically tosliut ofi' the fuel supply tofthe'associa-ted' steam generator; and which embodies novel means for effecting itsa operationi'when the steam vpressure exceeds a predetermined amount.-v f

Further objects ofthe inventionv are to provide adeviceof the'type stated,y which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable and eflicient in its useandI comparatively inexpensive to install and manufacture. y

Vith: the foregoing and other objects in view vwhichwill appear asfthe description proceeds, ythe invention consists of the novel construction', combination vand* arrangement of `parts hereinafter described and illus# trat'ed inthe accompanying drawing. but it is' to be understood thatl changes, variations and modifications-maybe resorted to that come within' the scope of the claims here;

unto appended'.- I

In the drawing wherein like numerals of reference' designate corresponding parts throughout the several- .views p Figure 1 is a side"elevational-view of my improved appliancer mounted on the. boiler cap" of the steam generator, the latter being broken away.

' Figure 2 is a thereof. 1' Y xFigure 3 isv across sectionalV of the connecting sleeves andlasso'ci'ated partspartl'y broken away. v f

Figure 4 is a side View of the diaphragm.

My improved appliance is mounted on' the steam reservoir' cap A. of a steam boiler or generator" B in the manner of an ordinary safety valve of the usual' construction'.

The automatic safety a plianceV comprises an elongated; vertically disposed body portion 1. consisting of a cylinder. 2 provided with bore 3, and formed with internally threaded ends.: f An' Yapertured1 'plug .14 is' vertical cross sectional view threadably secured in the upper end of the cylinder 2, and an apertured plug 5v is threadably secured inthe lower end thereof. An' upper kconnecting sleeve 6 is thread-v ably secured i-n ythe apertured plug 5. The sleeve 6is provided with a bore7 having an enlarged lower portion- 8.y The lower end'of the sleeve 6 is formed with a peripheral annular f'lange 9 for they engagement of the connecting nut 10 mounted on kthe sleeve 6. Y

i An enternallyvthreaded lower connecting sleeve 11.*is associated with the-upper confnectirig sleeve 6*,r andv the two sleeves 6 and 11 are joined together bythe connectingc -nut 10' on the' principle of an ordinary pipe union connection. Y

The sleeve, 11 is provided with arbore 12 and the upper end thereof `is formed tol provide a reduced neck 13, which extends into an inverted cup 14 .loosely mountedy the enlarged bore portion 8l of the sleeve 6. The top of the fcup 14 is provided with an aper# ture 15 registeringwith the sleeve' bore 7.

Afcircular diaphragm 16 including a depending peripheral flange 16 overlaps the upper end of the neck 13 and seats against the lower face of the top of the .cup 14. The diaphragm 16- is-rsecurely held 1n position between the top of the cup 14 and the upper end of the neck 13,y when the nut 10 is adto. join the sleeves 6 and 11, in the manner heeinbefore described.

The diaphragm 16 is constructedy from thin sheet copper or any'other suitablematerial. and is adapted to be ruptured' or brokeny wheni the pressure of the steam thereagainst exceeds a f predetermined amount. The construction of the sleeves 6 and 11 to'- gether with the associated connectingl nut 10 permits of the convenient replacement of a diaphragm 16 in' theevent oneis broken in the operation of the devicein the manner stated'.

A throttle -valii'ev 17- vconnects 'the lower sleeve 11 with the .steam reservoir cap A, andis normally maintained in the open position as shown in Figuresl and 2 of the drawing.y j

A piston 18 isfslidably" mounted vin the cylinder bore 3', and is fixed to thelower end Aof the-piston rod 19. The latter extends throughA the apertur'ed plug 4 and is prf vided ,with a stungf bos a0' 1e-venise iii. the

we er ,the plug 4.

A laterally disposed arm 21, having` a bifurcated outer end 22, is adjustably connectedadjacent to the upper end of the rod 19.` A non-metallic head 23 is fixed to the top of the rodl 19.L Normally the piston 18 and the associated rod 19 are in the lowered or depressed position shown in Figures l and 2 of the drawing.

The throttle valve 17 is provided with an operating lever 24 which extends in the horizontal direction when the throttle valve 17 is in the open position.

A. chain 25, provided with a head 26, connects theouter end of the lever 24 with the arm 21. p The bifurcated end-22 of the arm 21cng`ages the chain head 26 and establishes a 'detachable connection therewith.

In the use of my improved appliance it is intended to connect the same in the fuel supplyconduit by means'of a pair of con# nectors 27 which are fixed in ports 28formed adjacent to the upper end'of the cylinder 2 andl communicating with the bore 3 of the latter. this 'arrangement all of the fuel supplying the steam generator B must pass through the upper end portion'of the cylinder b ore 3. Y l

`In practice the operation of my improved appliance is as follows: Assuming that all parts of the device are Vin the positions shown in Figures -1 and v2 ofthe drawing, the throttle valve 17 is in the open position with the lever thereof extending in the horizon-l tal 'directionf The diaphragm 16 is unbroken, and the piston 18 and associated rod '19 are inthe loweredjor depressed position allowing the free passage of the fuel through the upper portion of the cylinder bore and through the ports 28 and conduit connectors 27. 'I/Vhen the pressure of the steam exceeds the predetermined amount capable of being withheld by the diaphragm 16,' the latter will break, thereby vpermitting of the escape of the steam into the lower portion of the cylinder bore 3. The entrance of the steam into the cylinder bore 3 will force or vdrive the piston 18 upwardly thereby closing the ports 28 and shutting olf the fuel supply and consequently extinguishing the tire heating the steam generator B. Y As the throttle lever 24 is connected to the arm 21 by the chain' 25, 'the upward movement of the arm 21 will` cause the shifting of the lever 211- to the vertical 'position thereby closing the valve 17 andshutti'ng off the passage of the steam therethrough. p'

The frictional engagement of the piston 18 in the cylinderbore and the frictional engagement of the rod 19 in the stutling boX 20 is sufficient to maintain the piston 18 in the elevated position until the latter isidepressed manually, andn does not require the the pressure of steam to hold the piston 18 in the fuelr closing position.

After a diaphragm 16 isblown out in the manner above stated, a new diaphragm is position,thereby.placing the appliance in condition for subsequent operation'.

In the use of my improved appliance, the excessive steam pressure will immediately extinguish the fire heating the steam boiler, thereby .preventing Lliability of explosion. Further, no steam escapes inY the operation of my improved appliance, therebyentirely eliminating annoyance, noise,inconvenience, and damage commonly caused by the escape of steam in the operation of an'ordinary pop or safety valve. i I

Vhat I claim is: Y

1. A safety appliance'for a steam generator comprising an elongated bodyportion provided with a bore andadapted to be communicably mounted on the steam reservoir of the generator, said body'portion pro vided with'apair of ports communicating with 'said 'bore and being adapted to communicate with the generator fuel supply conduit for Apassing the fuel through the bore of said body portion, a steam control valve carried by said body portion,a diaphragm constructed to withstand a predetermined amount'of steam pressuremounted in said body portion and constituting a par,- t-ition transversely dividing said bore, and means actuatedtby the passagey of steam through said diaphragm for simultaneously closing saidpair of portsto shut oifsaid fuelV and for closing said controlvalve to shut off the steam' from said'body portion.

2. A safety appliance for a steam generator comprising an elongatedV body portion provided with a bore and adapted to be communicably mounted on the steam reservoir of the generator, said body portion provided with a pair of. ports communicating I with said bore and being adapted to com,- municate with the generator fuel supply conduit for passing the fuel through the bore of said body portion, a-steam "control valve'car'ried by said body portion, a diaphragm constructed to withstand ,a pre determined vamount of steam pressure mounted in said body portion and constituting a partition transversely dividing said bore, a piston slidably mounted in said bore and vactuated V'by the passage of steam through said'diaphragm to close said pair of ports to sluit off said fuel, and means operated by the movement of saidv piston for closing said control valve tol shut off the steam from said body portion.

3. In combination, a safety appliance of the character described comprising an elon gated body portion'provided with a bore and adapted to be co'mmunicably mounted on the steam reservoir of a steam generator1v said body portion provided with a pair of ports communicating with said bore and being adapted to communicate With the generator fuel supply conduit for passing the fuel through the bore of said body portion, said ypair of ports disposed adjacent to the upper end of said body portion, a steam control valve connected to the lower eno ot'vsaid body portion, a diaphragm constructed to withstand a predetermined amount of steam pressure replaceably mounted in said body portion and constituting a partition transversely dividing said bore, a piston slidably mounted in said bore and disposed between said diaphragm and said pair of ports, a rod fixed to said piston and extending through the upper end'of said body portion, a laterally disposed arm having a bifurcated outer end fixed to the upper end of said rod, said control valve including an operating lever, a member con'- necting said llever with said arm and detachable from the latter, the passage of the steam through said diaphragm shifting said piston vertically in said bore closing said pair of ports to shut off said fuel and` simultaneously therewith 'shifting said control valve to the Aclosing posit-ion shutting off the Steam from said body portion, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth. f t

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

lCHARLES A.. HOWE. 

